Equally important news from last week is a rundown of the Redcliffe Yearling Sales. With just 5 withdrawals, 93 lots went under Darren Ebert’s hammer at the peninsula paceway last Sunday. In the higher priced bracket ($10,000 and above) there appeared to be a high percentage of “buy backs”, with the $30,000 sale topper, lot66, a colt by Mach Three from Making Magic, heading straight back home to Solid Earth (Kevin and Kay Seymour). Nothing comes without price, and the more attractive the 2y0 race attached to the sale becomes, in this case $100,000, the more prolific the “buy backs” will become. What ever, a further 21 lots realised between $5,001 and $9,999 with the remainder (57) making between $100.. and $4,999. As said, something for every budget, but, from a realistic point of view, only the top 36 lots could be imagined to contain a margin of profit. The rest amount to the annual breeder’s nightmare. How does a breeder support mare and offspring for more than two years to be offered a pittance in the sale ring. Breeding of harness stock in Queensland as a viable exercise, still has a long way to go..
It seems that this is the season for “interim” appointments. The following ukase from Wednesday,6 April 2016, indicates that the top table of the Breeders, Owners, Trainers and Reinspersons Association has undergone a swift and extensive rebuild. It is to be hoped that the “interim” office bearers have TAB turnover on their immediate agenda, otherwise it will be a waste of a reshuffle
This is to advise that there has been a number of changes to the Office Bearers of BOTRA (Qld) that become effective immediately:
Mr. Warwick Stansfield is standing down as President for business reasons and has been replaced in an interim capacity by Mr. Scott Miller.
However, Mr. Stansfield will remain on the executive as a joint Vice President, a position he will share with Mr. Bernie Ring.
Mrs. Margaret Reynolds has resigned as Secretary/Treasurer due to her recent appointment to the interim Board of Racing Queensland as the harness racing nominee and will be replaced in this position by Mr. Anthony Collins.
This interim BOTRA executive will remain in office until the Annual General Meeting in July 2016 to manage the restructure of the association whilst working closely with the harness industry advisory group consulting with Racing Queensland for the betterment of the Queensland harness racing industry.
* President: Scott Miller
* Joint Vice President: Warwick Stansfield
* Joint Vice President: Bernie Ring
* HIDG & Breeders Delegate: Greg Mitchell
* Secretary/Treasurer : Anthony Collins
The great molasses issue entered another chapter on Thursday when Botra indicated that it would cease the regulated distribution of molasses as of April 9th. In an exchange mindful of Winston Churchill’s directive, “Action this day”, RQ has forbidden the presence of molasses within the stabling area on race day. Trainers may keep molasses in their vehicles and flavor drinking water for their runners only in the car park and only after the animal in question has raced. The animal welfare issues versus the potential for breaches of integrity, are to be debated again. Perhaps Botra and RQ could also include “hopple chafe” and “swelldown” as further permissible on course treatment, again on animal welfare grounds!!
Welcome changes on the leader board this week with Barty Cockburn dominating the driving ranks on five wins. A triple dead heat for the trainers with Tess Neaves, Chantal Turpin-McMullen and John McMullen all leading in two apiece. Most pleasing result, Tess Neaves’ first appearance on the board.
D Smith QLD
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
